(5 Jul 2022) FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4387261 US NETWORK POOL via ABC NEWS VIDEOSOURCE - STRICTLY NO ARCHIVE RESALE/AUTHORIZED RE-USE BY APS BROADCAST AND DIGITAL OUTPUT ONLY Washington DC - 5 July 2022 1. Cutaway of US President Joe Biden 2. SOUNDBITE (English) Joe Biden, US President: "Yesterday marked the 246th anniversary of this nation's independence. 246 years of struggle and sacrifice to uphold the principles so dear to the character of our nation. Liberty, democracy. God given rights of every individual. It's a journey that has never finished, and it never will be fully finished. It's a work that requires us to look ahead to the future. The future we want to build. And to look carefully at our past." ++SEPARATED BY WHITE FLASH++ 3. SOUNDBITE (English) Joe Biden, US President: (Partially covered) "To understand fully where we come from, for each of those 246 years, American patriots have answered our nation's call to military service. They stood in the way of danger, risked everything, literally everything, to defend our nation and our values. However, not every service member has received the full recognition they deserve. Today we're setting the record straight. We're upgrading the awards of four soldiers who performed acts of incredible heroism during the Vietnam conflict to respect the conspicuous gallantry and intrepid and intrepid ability of the service. I mean, it's just astounding when you hear what each of them have done. They went far above and beyond the call of duty. It's a phrase I always used, but it's it just it takes on a life when you see these men. To the late staff Staff Sergeant Edward N. Kaneshiro, Specialist Five Dwight W. Birdwell, Specialist Five Dennis M. Fujii, and retired Major John J. Duffy. I'm proud to finally award our highest military recognition, the Medal of Honor, to each of you one posthumously. It's been a long journey to this day for those heroes and their families. And more than 50 years have passed, 50 years since the jungles of Vietnam, where as young men, these soldiers first proved their mettle. But time has not diminished their astonishing bravery, their selflessness, and putting the lives of others ahead of their own and the gratitude we as a nation owe them." 4. Cutaway of Biden presenting Medal of Honor posthumously to Staff Sergeant Edward N. Kaneshiro family 5. Cutaway of Specialist Five Dwight W. Birdwell getting Medal of Honor around Birdwell's neck 6. Cutaway of Specialist Five Dennis M. Fujii geting Medal of Honor around the neck of Fujii 7. Cutaway of retired Major John J. Duffy getting Medal of Honor around neck of Duffy STORYLINE: President Joe Biden on Tuesday bestowed the nation's highest military honor to four Army soldiers for their heroism above and beyond the call of duty during the Vietnam War. Biden presented the Medal of Honor to Staff Sergeant Edward N. Kaneshiro, Specialist Five Dwight W. Birdwell, Specialist Five Dennis M. Fujii, and retired Major John J. Duffy. Speaking in the East Room of the White House, Biden praised their heroism and lamented that they hadn't received appropriate recognition until now. Not every service member has received the full recognition they deserve, Biden said. Today, we're setting the record straight." Recounting their battlefield service, Biden said they went far and above the call of duty." More than 50 years have passed since the jungles of Vietnam, Biden added. But time has not diminished their bravery. =========================================================== Clients are reminded: Subscribe for more Breaking News: http://smarturl.it/AssociatedPress Website: https://apnews.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP Facebook: https://facebook.com/APNews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/1eab8075e0454da592e4f19b9a6fc84e